The state of the Indian hockey team is not enshrouded in and outside India. Citing it as a national game and regaling it with grime, this is the state of Hockey in our country. Indian Hockey Federation is a defunct body now, with, Kandaswamy Jothikumaran, the IHF’s Secretary General being charged with corruption and K P S Gill, IHF chief for 14 years, losing his position. A flair of ecstasy demoed in 1928 with a first non-european team to not only be a part of, International Hockey Federation, but to bring home its first gold medal. And, from then to 1956 the flair continued, the men remained unbeaten in the Olympics winning six gold medals in a row. But, with a barricade at 8 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze, the sun did not rise again.

“There is a syndrome in sports called “paralysis by analysis.”

-By Arthur Ashe

People, say, more importance is given to cricket than to our national game. They have something or the else to aver.

Do they evince an iota of interest in matches being played by our blue team with sticks (not bats). Whole country is cricket crazy not even knowing the names of hockey players properly.

As quoted by Wilson Mizner rightly:

“In order to excel, you must be completely dedicated to your chosen sport. You must also be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept destructive criticism. Without 100% dedication, you won’t be able to do this.”

On other panel, players say they are not provided proper facilities and infrastructure, which is true, but do they play wonderous to attract sponsors. In 2008, it lost 2-0 to Britain at Santiago, not qualifying for the Beijing Olympics. This was the first time Indian team was not part of Olympics since 1928. The sport is in limelight, recently, but for controversies rather than achievements.

Losers quit when they’re tired. Winners quit when they’ve won.

After holler of ‘Chakde India’ the team was suffused with energy but to be faded out soon. The dream plans and innovations are in pipeline, hope, they don’t turn into pipedreams in coming days.

Sports in India has gained a special kiosk, especially, Cricket which is commercialised for good and even for bad. If this is the sport which people love the most, then, no harm in making it richer, as people enjoy and players earn their purse strings. But if game is turned to a market place of buyers and sellers, then spectators have no role to play. They feel useless. IPL may have attracted viewers seeking for entertainment but the passion which shows when India-Pakistan match takes place, was missing. Its an outright three hours of amusement minus the jingoism.

We have to maintain the pride of nationality in this sport, lets stride and make it national in the real sense of the word. So, that we are proud to address it with the title we do at present. This is only possible, if we enthuse our souls with the ethics of sports. Be it Hockey or Cricket, its not time to fight but to maintain the dignity of play and let them share their deserving and recognized space. They are the sports of the same region.

These two field sports in India are at different levels altogether. One hitting with bats and other dodging with sticks. One thriving on bed of roses and other pricking thorns from it, failing to recognize it as a part of rose.